Letters:

Warning to the media

Your editorial on Oct. 10 ("Stooges worse than missiles," page 8) pointed out that China might not need to use missiles and weapons to take over Taiwan, but may instead be able to do so by manipulating people who are pro-China to produce noise and confusion amongst the public.

I would like to add that according to the persuasion theories of Hugh Rank, published in his article "Teaching About Public Persuasion" in the book Teaching and Doublespeak (edited by D. Dietrich, 1976), persuaders can use three "downplaying elements" to bring the public closer to their position. These three elements are called omission, diversion and confusion.

The article says that confusion may be resorted to when the persuaders, failing to convince their audience, seek to make them unable to comprehend by creating a complex situation.

From this point of view, media channels must be careful not to be exploited as a powerful tool by people intent on spreading information beneficial to their interests, distorting facts by creating false events and shaping their desired image. The people of Taiwan must understand the reality that it is very easy to be persuaded, or, even worse, to be brainwashed, without recognizing the reality of a situation.

Lo Yu-hsin

Washington D.C.